It is often far too easy to experience some behaviour in SQL Server, and then extrapolate your belief from that. One example that is seen frequently on forums is the simplistic case of concatenating values into a scalar variable, however the logic that is commonly assumed is false. Take the example USE tempdbGOIF OBJECT_ID(‘CharsTable’,’U’) IS Read more about Building a string of values in T-SQL[…]

In my last post, I showed how a check constraint can be used by the optimizer to completely rule out any data access, however there are some rules to abide by. Lets recap We created a check constraint on Person.Person table in AdventureWorks2014 so that when we queried for any rows with a ModifiedDate earlier Read more about Trusting Constraints[…]

The Query Optimizer in SQL Server is an amazing piece of code. It takes any query we choose to throw at it, evaluates many different ways of executing that query and, generally speaking, comes up with an execution plan that is going to be good enough. And it does all that in milliseconds. Sometimes it Read more about Helping the Query Optimizer with Constraints[…]

Returned to the Leeds SQL Server User Group for the first time in a long time. I previously worked in the office building that hosts the user group, and wow has it changed! Not only was it a long overdue return, but it was also my first time presenting at Leeds too. Here are the Read more about Leeds SQL Server User Group – 1 December 2016[…]

As promised here are the slides and demos from my session at Manchester SQL Server User Group on Wednesday 19 October 2016. Tune the query not the plan – Slides Tune the query not the plan – Demos Was a great night, and my first ever session at my home user group!!

Its been a good year so far for the SQL Server community in the North West, as we’ve just had SQLBits XV in Liverpool, at which a Liverpool based user group got off the ground too! Next up is SQL Saturday Manchester, returning for a second time after it’s successful launch last year. Venue is Read more about SQL Community thriving in the NW[…]

There have been a few posts about SSMS Activity Monitor recently. First Kendra Little (b | t) talked about why she doesn’t like it and then Guy Glanster (b | t) and Matan Yungman (b | t) also discussed the failings of Activity Monitor on their SQL Server Radio podcast – mainly it’s to do Read more about SSMS Activity Monitor greyed out Processor graph[…]

I’ve just finished a few enjoyable days with the great people on SQLRelay. I only managed to get involved with the Newcastle and Leeds events, but it was an amazing experience. The interaction I got at the end of my Leeds session was fantastic – I’ve never had so many questions. Some of the questions I Read more about SQLRelay 2014 slide decks[…]

SQL Conference season is upon us it seems. Unfortunately I don’t get to go to the PASS Summit, but nevertheless, it’s manic here too. SQL Relay started it’s first leg (13-16 October) last week, and is now having a week of rest! On Friday 24th October, I’ll be heading down to London for the annual Read more about SQL Server conference season[…]